MLB Sabathia back on track in win over Astros

CC Sabathia was glad to finally help out on Tuesday night after watching the rest of the pitching staff start to turn things around while he struggled for more than a month notching loss after loss.

Sabathia allowed just two runs in 6 2/3 innings to get back on track after a tough stretch and help the New York Yankees to a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros.

Sabathia (6- 8) allowed four hits and struck out five to pick up his first win since June 16 after going 0-4 and allowing 31 runs — 29 earned — combined in his past six starts.

“I’ve been doing everything I can and trying not to get frustrated,” he said. “We’ve been playing pretty well, we’re fighting right now and to be able to help us get a win feels good.”

Things didn’t look good early on Tuesday night when he allowed a solo home run to Marwin Gonzalez in the first inning. But he settled in after that, allowing only one single over the next five innings.

The Yankees built a five-run lead thanks in part to a two-run triple by Aaron Hicks by the time Evan Gattis hom- ered to start Houston’s seventh and cut it to 6-2. Sabathia was lifted after a two-out single by Carlos Gomez in that inning.

“I thought he had really good stuff tonight,” manager Joe Girardi said. “He gave up the homer earlier, similar to last night, and then he got to the seventh and gave up another home to Gattis — he got in the wrong count there — but his stuff was really good.”

Andrew Miller allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth for his second save since Aroldis Chapman was traded Monday and ninth overall.

Houston starter Doug Fister (10-7) allowed nine hits and six runs, which both tied season highs, in 4 2/3 innings for the loss.

“I didn’t execute to- day,” Fister said. “Basically, I let my team down. It was execution. I left balls over the middle.”

Gonzalez added a solo homer in the eighth for his first career multihome run game. His first home run was right-handed and the second one from the left to make the switchhitter the first Houston player to homer from both sides in the same game since Lance Berkman did it in 2006.

The Astros loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Dellin Betances struck out Jason Castro on three pitches to end the threat.

ERIC CHRISTIAN SMITH — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia winds up during the third inning of a game against the Houston Astros on Tuesday in Houston.